"Summertime..."
My thanks to the Yavneh community for the “mini-sabbatical” I am enjoying this summer (June 22 - July 21). During my absence, coverage for pastoral concerns will be provided by Cantor Karen Kumin (cantor@yavneh-raleigh.org, 917-575-2381), while questions of practical congregational concern may be directed to our Board President, Peter Gabor (bod@yavneh-raleigh.org). The weekly Update will continue to arrive with program reminders, but without “rabbinic commentary.”
Looking forward to seeing you at the July 26th Shabbat morning worship!
L’shalom,
Reb Raachel
WorshipPlease remember to bring donations for the Food Basket or school supplies for Wilburn Elementary when you attend services.
Kabbalat Shabbat worship, Friday, July 11, 6:00 pm refreshments, 6:30 service.
Shabbat morning worship, Saturday, July 26, 10:30 am.
New Hope Alliance Congregational Pot-Luck Picnic, Saturday, August 2, 11:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m., Longview Baptist Church, 2308 N. New Hope Road, 27604. Watch the Update for further details in late July.
Kabbalat Shabbat worship, Friday, August 8, 6:00 pm refreshments, 6:30 service.
Shabbat morning worship, Saturday, August 23, 10:30 am.
Looking Torward the High Holy Days
Do you like to sing? Play an instrument? Clap along? Dance? Add your kol (voice), musicianship, and ruach (spirit) to our High Holy Day observances this fall. Jewish tradition holds that our prayers as a community uplift those of a lone worshipper, and we know that since the days of the Temple, singing, dancing, and instrumental music have been integral to Jewish worship.
Together, let’s carry on that tradition as "Kol Yavneh," the "Voice of Yavneh," and lift our spirits and prayers through music. No experience necessary. Some rehearsal time over the summer, depending on how involved you would like to be. We will also schedule one or two informal community "sing-alongs" (TBD) to familiarize ourselves with the congregational High Holy Day music, so we can be ready to inspire all of those worshipping with us. For more details, please contact Cantor Karen (cantor@yavneh-raleigh.org).
Renew Yourself: Become a 2014 - 2015 Member of the Yavneh Community
Please affirm your affiliation with Yavneh by initiating or renewing your membership in our sacred community for the congregational fiscal year beginning July 1. Whether you attend frequently or occasionally, whether you join in for study only or for social gatherings, please know how welcome and how vital your membership commitment is to fulfilling Yavneh’s mission. Click here to download a membership form, and please contact either Reb Raachel or Peter Gabor if you have questions about how you can best support Yavneh. If you choose not to set up a monthly payment plan, we would appreciate your establishing or renewing your commitment by the High Holy Days.
Important information for families with children: Yavneh partners with the Chabad Center to provide basic Hebrew education for our children. The Sundaymorning program includes participation by instructors from Yavneh along with the Chabad Center’s excellent teaching staff. We plan to supplement the Hebrew program with Yavneh family learn-shops throughout the school year, and we will continue offering our own b’nai mitzvah instruction as our students reach that important milestone in their Jewish learning. Contact Reb Raachel for further information or click here to download the student registration form for 2014 – 15.
Upcoming Yavneh Events
Yavneh’s Men’s Spirituality Group will meet next on Wednesday evening, July 2, at7:30. This group provides an opportunity to explore how we can understand Torah/Jewish-based spirituality from our perspectives as men, fathers, sons, brothers, husbands, and friends and to explore how Torah/Jewish-based spirituality can inform how we live our lives. For information or to RSVP, contact Lewis Copulsky at lewiscopulsky@gmail.com or919-606-4276; directions provided when you RSVP.
Doreen Clark facilitates a Spirit-Wisdom-Intuition Yavneh SoulCollage® workshop every month on the second Sunday, 2:00 – 5:00 pm. These gatherings are now FREE (except for a small materials and refreshments fee of $5 collected anonymously). The next gathering is scheduled for July 13. Although geared to Yavneh members, the sessions are open to all. Attendees are invited to arrive at 1:00 to enjoy an hour schmoozing and snacking beforehand. Email Doreen at doreen@lewisclarkinc.com to reserve your spot. Enrollment at each workshop is limited to eight participants. For more information about SoulCollage® in general, see www.soulcollage.com.
Yavneh’s Mitzvot Study Group next meets Wednesday, July 16, 7:30 - 9:00 pm. at Janet Isaacs’ home. RSVP to Janet (jisaacsug@msn.com) for directions.
The purpose of this new group is to introduce or increase intentionality (kavannah) into our individual spiritual practices. We will do that by studying a different one (or a group of several) of the 613 mitzvot (commandments) that are in the Torah, as well as those introduced by the rabbis during the Talmudic period. After taking a very brief look at the literal meaning of the mitzvot, the bulk of the session will be on understanding how it might (or might not) be relevant to each of us in our own lives, and, if we choose to, how we might incorporate it into our daily activities.
This group is open to participants of all religions (as well as genders, ages, etc.). While clergy are welcome to participate, the group will be lay-led and directed by the interests of all those taking part.
Sunday evening, July 27, gather for “Dinner with the Rabbi,” 6:30 – 8:30 pm. We have been meeting at NeoAsia, 6602 Glenwood Avenue, Raleigh 27612, but are open to other venues. Please contact Reb Raachel (rabbi@yavneh-raleigh.org) by Wednesday, July 23, to suggest an alternative or to let her know you plan to attend.
Social Action
The Jewish Family Services B’Yachad Program is recruiting volunteers for a friendly visitor outreach to Jewish patients in area hospitals. Click here for detailed information or contact Tracey Bennett, the JFS B’Yachad volunteer coordinator (Tracey.Bennett@ShalomRaleigh.org, 919-676-2200).
The Tutoring Team at Wilburn can always use some more players: each member of the team helps one student at Wilburn Elementary twice weekly with reading. Next school year, we hope to welcome more Yavneh and St. Mark’s members to the team, as the need for reading assistance at Wilburn is far greater than we can meet with our small but dedicated group. Please contact Terry Wall (919-832-3055) to discuss becoming a volunteer tutor.
An option for volunteers is to become an Augustine-method trained tutor. Augustine training costs approximately $300, with significant financial aid available; the training is helpful, though not required, for Wilburn tutors. If you wish to plan to participate in the training, available dates include: July 7-18 (9:00 am – 3:00 pm), Church of the Holy Family, Chapel Hill; September 8-12 (8:30 am -1:00 pm), Crossroads Fellowship, Raleigh; Oct. 6-17 (9:00 am – 3:00 pm.), Watts Street Church, Durham. Terry can also give you more information about the Augustine method.
Request Pastoral Support Online
We offer a Prayers and Remembrances page to our web site. Go to this page if you wish to have a name included in the Shabbat worship Prayers for Healing, if you wish to request a pastoral visit from the Rabbi, or if you wish to have the passing of a loved one remembered during the recitation of the Mourner’s Kaddish. The page links to a form which captures information for Sh’loshim (first 30 days of mourning) and Yahrzeit remembrances, as well as directions for contacting the rabbi in the event of a pastoral need.
Connecting with Yavneh
Help Us Build
If you enjoy attending Yavneh, reach out to your unaffiliated friends and invite them to accompany you to a Yavneh service or event – help build Jewish Renewal in the Triangle by encouraging others to be part of our synagogue without walls.
Be our friend!
Keep up with all things Yavneh – visit us on Facebook and take a moment to “like” what we’re up to, yet another way to spread the word about our exciting and growing spiritual community.
Please consider making it your minhag (custom) to offer sometzedakah to Yavneh on a regular basis. In addition to your participation in our growing community, a gift that is beyond price, we would be most grateful to receive contributions through PayPal whenever you celebrate a simcha, remember a loved one, enter into Shabbat or holiday time, complete a project, recover from an illness (though we pray for your continued robust health), . . . you get the picture! Any and all donations make a significant impact on our efforts to build Yavneh’s Jewish Renewal synagogue-without-walls.
Another way to help Yavneh: if you shop at Amazon.com, please apply the AmazonSmile feature to your purchases, and our community will receive .5% of each order.
If you have questions about how Yavneh is evolving or suggestions to light our path, please contact Rabbi Raachel Jurovics.
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